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Ron Brownson

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Ron Brownson
Born1952
Died27 February 2023
NationalityNew Zealand
Other namesRonald Brownson
Alma materUniversity of Auckland
Known forNew Zealand and Pacific Arts

Ron Brownson (1952–2023), also Ronald Brownson, was a prominent New Zealand curator who contributed significantly to Māori and Pacific art and culture in New Zealand.[1] Brownson was the Senior Curator New Zealand and Pacific Art at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.[2] Brownson also held status as a Queer elder and member of New Zealand's Gay Liberation Movement.[3]

Education

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In 1977 Brownson received a master's degree from the University of Auckland.[4] In 2006, the research papers from his master's thesis on New Zealand realist painter Rita Angus became part of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki's archives.[4]

Career

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Brownson began his career at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in 1978 as a research librarian at the EH McCormick Library.[5][3] In 1995, Brownson became Curator of Photography and Pacific Art, in 2001 this role developed into Curator of New Zealand Art and Senior Curator in 2002. He held the position of Senior Curator New Zealand and Pacific Art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki until his death in March 2023.[5] Over his career he contributed to a number of pivotal exhibitions at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.

In 1990, Brownson gave the first of many talks to come about New Zealand art and artists. He discussed the topic of Rita Angus for the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki exhibition, Two Centuries of New Zealand Landscape Art.[3]

Dedicating over 40 years of service to the arts, Brownson held many lectures and artist talks over his career, with artists such as Fiona Clark, John Miller, Rueben Paterson.[2][6][7][8] Brownson was known for advocating and supporting artists, most notably, Niuean artist John Pule and Samoan artist Fatu Feu'u.

In 2008, Brownson won the Illustrated non-fiction award at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards for Bill Hammond: Jingle Jangle Morning, a book written in collaboration with Jennifer Hay, Chris Knox, and Laurence Aberhart.[9]

Brownson was a former board member and trustee of Tautai Pacific Arts Trust from 2010 until 2023.

Publications

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  • Molly Macalister: A Memorial Exhibition (1982)
  • John Kinder Photographs (1985)
  • International Photography 1920–1980 (1985)[3]

Contributions to Publications

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Death

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Upon Brownson's death on 27 February 2023, there was an outpour of appreciation from his colleagues at Auckland Art Gallery as well as other galleries and artists he worked with over his career. Brownson's service to art and culture in New Zealand has proved him a significant figure in the G.L.A.M. sector both in New Zealand and internationally.

Long time colleague and friend Ben Bergman of Bergman Gallery said, "A legend has passed." and "Ron leaves an unprecedented legacy of service to New Zealand & Pacific Art." John Gow from Gow Langsford Gallery said "New Zealand has not only lost a great character of the art world but an enormous fountain of knowledge."[11]

Exhibitions curated

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Exhibition Year Location Curator(s)
Open the Shutter: Auckland Photographers Now at Auckland Museum 1994 The Auckland War Memorial Museum, Tāmaki Paenga Hira Ron Brownson (Guest curator)
Lillian. Budd: The Voice of Silence 1997 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Haze: Maureen Lander, Kaylyn Twotrees, Toi Mahi 1998 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Ross T. Smith: Hokianga 1998 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Terry Urbahn: The Karaokes 1998-99 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
John Ioane: Fale Sa 1999 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Opo: The Hokianga Dolphin 2000 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
New Visions: Beginning the Contemporary in New Zealand Art 2001-02 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Gretchen Albrecht: Illuminations 2002 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Sugimoto Portraits- Works Commissioned by Deutsche Guggenheim Berlin 2002 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Fatu Feu'u 'O le tautai Samoa 2002-03 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith 2003 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
New Zealand Modern: Paintings and Sculpture from the Collection 2003-04 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
India: Hindu Art from the 12th to the 18th Century 2003 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Bauhaus Photography 2003 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Self and Other: The Expressionist Spirit in New Zealand Art 2003-04 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
John Kinder's New Zealand 2004 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Golden - Celebrating 50 Years of the Friends of the Gallery 2004 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson, assisted by Jane Davidson
Through the Eyes of Shirin Neshat 2004 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Doris Lusk: Acrade Awnings 2004 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Local Atlas: Contemporary New Zealand and Australian art 2004-05 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Te Moananui a Kiwa 2005-06 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson, Ngahiraka Mason, Jane Davidson
William Hodges 1744-1797: The Art of Exploration 2005 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Tribute: Visual artists celebrated by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand 2006 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Summer Daze 2006-07 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ngahiraka Mason, Ron Brownson
Likeness & Character: Portraits From the Auckland Art Gallery Collection 2007-08 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
The Walters Prize 2008 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
In Shifting Light 2008-09 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Local Revolutionaries: Art & Change 1965–1986 2010-11 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson, Mary Kisler
The Walters Prize 2010 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi : Aotea (White Cloud) 2012-13 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Home AKL: Artists of Pacific Heritage in Auckland 2012 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson, Julia Waite
Partner Dance: Gifts from the Patrons of the Auckland Art Gallery 2012-13 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson, Natasha Conland and Ngahiraka Mason
Kinder's Presence 2013-14 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Robert Ellis: Turangawaewae | A Place to Stand 2014-15 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Toi Aotearoa 2011-14 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson, Natasha Conland, Ngahiraka Mason, Jane Davidson-Ladd
ANZAC: Photographs by Laurence Aberhart 2015 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Whano Kē: Change and Constancy in Māori Art Today 2015-16 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Te Wā Tōiri: Fluid Horizons 2015-16 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Seen from Elsewhere 2015-16 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Extra Ordinary Everyday 2015-16 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Yuki Kihara and John Pule 2015-16 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Len Casbolt's Photography: From Soft Focus to Sharp Vision 2016 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
To All New Arrivals 2016-18 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
The Māori Portraits: Gottfried Lindauer’s New Zealand – Te Hokinga Mai 2018-19 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson, Nigel Borell
Seeing Moana Oceania 2018-20 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson, Nigel Borell
Ralph Hotere: Godwit/Kuaka 2018-20 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Richard Lewer: Collective Memory 2020 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Civilization, Photography, Now 2020 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and Touring
Max Oettli: Visible Evidence, Photographs 1965–1975 2021-22 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson
Malcolm Ross, Fiona Clark, Grant Lingard: Looking at Men 2021-22 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Ron Brownson, Caroline McBride, Tamsyn Bayliss

[12][3]

References

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  1. ^ "Ron Brownson (1952 - 2023)". PhotoForum. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Two Tōtara of the Visual Arts world have fallen. Vale Ans Westra. Vale Ron Brownson". creativenz.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Auckland Art Gallery". Auckland Art Gallery. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Ron Brownson's Research Papers for a Thesis on Rita Angus". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b Amery, Mark (1 March 2023). "The curators caring for people's souls". Stuff. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  6. ^ Fiona Clark and Ron Brownson in conversation., retrieved 30 November 2023
  7. ^ Thank you John Miller for 40 Years of Amazing New Zealand Photography, retrieved 30 November 2023
  8. ^ He kōrero ātaahua: A conversation with Reuben Paterson, retrieved 30 November 2023
  9. ^ "Past Winners: 2008". New Zealand Book Awards Trust. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  10. ^ Bergman, Ben (2019). Andy Lelei'uao: KAMOAN MINE. Auckland, New Zealand: Bergman Gallery, TSB Wallace Arts Centre, Creative New Zealand.
  11. ^ "A Legend has Passed". The Big Idea. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  12. ^ Unknown (30 November 2023). "Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Exhibition History" (PDF).